Folate plays an important role in the health of the body and nervous system. I’m sure you have heard that Folate is important for neural development in pregnancy and that it might help with mental health, but if you are considering supplementing with folate there are a few things you need to know first.
Folate and B12 work together for the formation of healthy red blood cells, and they are both important for the health and proper function of the nervous system.
Folate and B12 deficiency symptoms overlap, which means it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between one or the other without a blood test.
Symptoms of folate deficiency:
- shortness of breath/shallow breathing
- Heart palpitations
- headaches
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- weakness
- mouth sores
Symptoms of B12 deficiency:
- Shortness of breath
- heart palpitations
- fatigue
- weakness
- loss of appetite
- mouth sores
- neuropathy(tingling, pins and needles sensations in arms and legs)
See what I mean?
So whats the problem with supplementing with folate?
supplementing with folate without knowing your B12 status can cause issues in several ways:
Folate supplementation masks the symptoms of a b12 deficiency, which means you may actually start to feel better all the while your b12 deficiency is getting worse.
Folate supplementation can also mask the signs of a b12 deficiency on a blood test. B12 deficiency can cause irregularly large red blood cells but over supplementation with folate can hide this major sign of a b12 deficiency.
The important take away is it’s vitally important if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above to know your B12 levels before supplementing with just folate. It is important to advocate for yourself but as always, I recommend that you seek that help of a licensed healthcare provider and do your own research.
I wish you healing my friend.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition. If you have any medical or psychiatric concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed healthcare provider.
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